John Mikel Obi returns to Cobham on Sunday to fight for a place in the new-look Chelsea, anchored by Jose Mourinho, the man who shaped his career. He was a subject of transfer speculations earlier in the summer with both Galatasaray and AS Monaco reportedly interested in taking him away from Stamford Bridge. Those rumours seemed to have subsided; more so after Mourinho declared none of his players would leave the club in this transfer window. Obi Mikel Mikel is such an enigma who has continued to generate mixed feelings about his football talent, an experience he has endured right from the dawn of his career. As a teenager, he survived a bitter transfer wrangle between his current club and Manchester United. Tales of forgery, threats and abduction were features of the year-long battle which started from the chill of Oslo and ended in the clement summer of London in 2006. He has spent seven seasons at the Stamford Bridge outfit, enjoying a successful spell that has rewarded him with domestic and European titles under nine different coaches with constant managerial changes at the club. Having arrived in West London in a £16 million (N4 billion) deal, Jose Mourinho (during his first spell) entrusted the then 19 year old with huge responsibilitie s, making a total of 42 appearances, including 24 starts, in all competitions. He even started the 2007 FA Cup final despite having injured his hamstring barely a week before the final during the Blues’ last Premier League game against Everton. Mourinho, who was asked before the game, revealed it was a risk to feature him yet paraded Mikel for the entire 120 minutes with bandage around his thigh, as Didier Drogba’s 116th minute goal earned Chelsea the victory. It was a game the Blues midfielder wouldn’t forget in a hurry as he reflects on the Portuguese manager’s influence on his career. “When I started working under Mourinho, he became my idol. The relation that I had with him was very special-he gave me the opportunity who I’am today,” Mikel remarked in the latest edition of his club’s official magazine. “In my first season, he played me in an FA Cup final. It’s incredible to have someone show you that level of respect. He treated me like one of the players, even though we some huge names, massive players. He trusted me enough to put me in there and I had a really good game and we won. He will remain special in my life for a long time.” Mikel now faces the biggest test to his position at Chelsea, following this summer’s arrival of 20 year old Dutch international, Marco Van Ginkel who has impressed in Chelsea’s three pre-season games in Asia, showing tremendous versatility in both the holding role in a 4-2-3-1, and as one of three midfielders in a 4-3-3. Since Mikel’s arrival at the London outfit, Van Ginkel has been the closest to challenge his position in the team, after Nemanja Matic, 21, joined the club in August 2009 with little top experience from Slovakian side MFK Kosice. Michael Ballack, 29, arrived the same summer as the Nigerian; Steve Sidwell (2007) arrived as a squad player while Deco came in 2008 at the twilight of his career at 30. Mourinho reminded the Blues senior players this week that he was ready to play his best players regardless of age or longevity at the club, including a reference to Mikel’s breakthrough at 19. “Any time I had in my hands young players with conditions to become top players and play for the first team, I did it everywhere. Here (at Chelsea) Mikel John Obi arrived and [Claude] Makélélé dropped to the bench. Any time I have [had young players], I’m not afraid to go for it.” Mikel played in a more attacking role for Nigeria’s youth teams and continued to feature in the role for the national team. He impressed in central midfield at the recent FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil with eye- catching performances against South American and European/ World champions, Uruguay and Spain respectively. His exploits at the intercontinental competition followed his solid showing in the same role in South Africa where he led his country to African Nations Cup success. The Nigerian star’s form at the Confederations Cup revived suggestions that Mourinho hindered his attacking potentials early in his career yet critics ignored the fact that Mikel only spent a full season with the Portuguese manager before he was relieved as the boss in September 2007. Eight other managers have coached the team afterwards, with only Carlo Ancelotti known to have attempted to alter the Nigerian’s game, to a deep-lying playmaker. One of the commonest criticisms of Mikel’s game is the intensity in his passing, often languid with his decisions on the ball, in a Premier League renowned for pace, different from that of international football. It is an area Mikel will need to improve in a battle for regular spot with Van Ginkel, who is adept at quicker, two-footed passing more suitable for the likes of Eden Hazard and Juan Mata to explore opponents’ key areas. Mikel’s other contenders are mainly Ramires, Michael Essien and Frank Lampard. Ramires have been in scoring form in pre-season but his passing decisions remain a blight to his effort, giving the ball away too frequently. Essien has been bright since his return from his loan spell at Real Madrid but his injury record, as well as that of Lampard in recent years, would suggest Mikel has a good chance against the duo. Mourinho has thrown the stage wide open on his now famous Second Coming, and Mikel has a huge job on his hand to retain his place on the podium. It’s a fresh audition for merit, not a smooth transition for credit. ~Yah~
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 03:38:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015